New Phone, Who Dis?: Mercy M’fon
We are deeply grateful for the immense amount of growth that our organization has experienced over the last year or so. It has been a wild ride. And, we want to remain committed to cultivating relationships with each other, even as we grow. So, please enjoy our new Getting to Know You series: weekly staff features to get reacquainted and newly acquainted with all of the folks behind the scenes at Wild Diversity.
First up: Continue reading to hear more about our most fearless and dynamic Sagittarian leader, Mercy, on their favorite way(s) to prepare eggs, their current and deep love for Michaela Coel, and that one magical week they spent in Fiji.
What goes first, the cereal or the milk? State your case.
Obviously the cereal. Let’s not be ridiculous. The cereal goes first because you put the milk based on the amount of the cereal you’re having.
Tell us about a place you have travelled that has surprised you.
That is hard because I’ve travelled to so many places around the world. I would say Fiji. We were on this island that doesn’t look very big but there’s so much to do. We did canyon canoeing, we hiked the sand dunes to the beach, we rode horses in the ocean, went to the market. And all the people there were just really nice. We went to the Blues bar, and our regular waitress was a trans person. And we weren’t sure what to expect because homosexuality is illegal there. And, as a bunch of queers, we were expecting to be on guard the whole time. But it turned out to be one of the best trips I’ve ever been on.
How do you like your eggs prepared?
Every way! You can do it over easy. You can poach it. You can do a soft boil — a three-minute, a five-minute, a six-minute depending on how you’re feeling that day. You can do a scramble! Are you kidding?! You gotta diversify.
Tell us about yourself via the most resonant parts of the Enneagram, Astrology, Myers Briggs, or some other type of personality inventory.
Some people describe my sign (Sagittarius) as an instigator. Instigating events, things, connections. Bringing people together. Coordinating things.
Your favorite book or or your favorite movie. Or both.
My favorite movie from when I was in middle school or high school would have to be The Fifth Element. And that has not changed. I don’t think it’s the best movie in the world. It’s just my favorite.
My favorite book — a recent joint — would be Children of Blood and Bone. And I would say, yes, favorite all time book.
Tell us about the oldest thing in your possession.
I’m not a particularly sentimental person, but I have my album from when I was a child. When we were little, we all had our own little album. And mine was blue with plastic lining and it has like foam inside. And there are some pictures of me rocking some badass 70s and 80s clothes in that album.
Are there any lockdown related hobbies that have stuck for you? Or not?
I have had a million hobbies for the past year and a half. I have done barre, Yoga, worked with a private trainer. I took pottery classes. Guitar lessons, singing courses, piano courses. And then I’ve done stunt car driving and freediving. And I like all of it. And I got a new puppy — which is a hobby that is most sticking.
Tell us about one of your favorite people and why they are one of your favorite people — dead or alive, friend, family, famous human.
I would say Michaela Coel. They just recently won an overdue Emmy, but they’ve been writing since Bubblegum. And I’ve admired them as a British actress on the BBC, but they’re also a super amazing writer. And that last series they did — I May Destroy You — was about their personal story. And it was super educational about things we are not talking about. And it was brave and they allowed their self to be sloppy and careless, and a good friend and a bad friend. And it’s really true to life. They shared this really gut wrenching story that I think will mean something to people, so their work really meant something past entertainment.
